USA TODAY International Edition
Harry and Meghan’s wedding
Some details emerge, but much is still not known
A little more than eight weeks to go and we know a wee bit more about the plans for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s upcoming royal wedding as Kensington Palace continues to dribble out tantalizing details. Tidbits about the cake, the invitations, the reception venue and the commemorative china are coming into focus, but we’re still in the dark about the most tantalizing detail of all. Here’s what we know so far:
The dress
Who will create the wedding gown for the most unprecedented royal bride in centuries?
When Markle, 36, walks down the aisle of St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on May 19, will she be in a frothy princessy-style confection of the sort worn by Harry’s mother, Lady Diana Spencer, in 1981? Or an elegant couture stunner by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen similar to that worn by Kate Middleton when she married Harry’s brother, Prince William, in 2011?
As always when it comes to royal wedding speculation, let’s go to the bookies.
In February, a sudden surge of wagers on McQueen caused London’s bookmakers to suspend taking bets on that design house, still a favorite of Duchess Kate of Cambridge.
Then last month, after a similar flurry, Ladbrokes suspended bets on Britain’s couture house Ralph & Russo. The team of Tamara Ralph and Michael Russo have been touted as front-runners ever since Markle wore one of their creations — which cost nearly $80,000 — in one of her official engagement photos.
Another designer with favorable odds is Roland Mouret, the London-based Frenchman who is a friend of Markle’s. Some fashion-followers are convinced he dropped hints he might get the job in a recent interview with WWD when he was asked directly. “Mmmmm, I don’t want to say. No comment. It’s … there is no comment on that. She’s a friend. And that’s … I can’t say.”
He also told the New York Post that Markle “knows really well what she likes and the main thing with Meghan is to listen to her and work in collaboration.”
Meanwhile, some news outlets reported months ago the designer had been “chosen.” In January, ABC News cited a series of tweets by British royal reporter Omid Scobie about how Markle had chosen the designer and dress, had her first fitting at Kensington Palace and was relying on her Canadian pal/stylist Jessica Mulroney for help in planning the nuptials. Here’s a safe bet: We won’t find out for sure about her dress until she arrives at the chapel door.
The cake
Think spring: Lemon, elderflower, fresh flowers. The palace announced last week the wedding cake will be a concoction incorporating “the bright flavors of spring,” covered with buttercream and adorned with fresh flowers. And it will have an American flavor: Claire Ptak is the chosen confectioner. She was raised in California and worked as a pastry chef under Alice Waters at Chez Panisse in Berkeley, and runs Violet Bakery in London.
The invitations
Who’s getting one? They haven’t released the guest list yet, and might not until the day of the wedding.
But we know 600 people will be in the chapel and at the luncheon reception hosted by Queen Elizabeth II later at St. George’s Hall in the castle State Apartments.
The palace released pictures of the invites. Printed in gold and black American-made ink on English card stock and featuring the three-feathered badge of the Prince of Wales, they were made by Barnard & Westwood, which has supplied royal invitations since 1985.
The dinner reception venue
This is the sit-down dinner for 200 hosted by Prince Charles after the main reception. It’s going to be at Frogmore House, a favorite of Harry and Meghan.
The china
OK, it’s the “official commemorative English fine bone china” sold to tourists and fans as souvenirs.
The design features a monogram of the couple’s initials tied together with white ribbons and surmounted by the coronet of Prince Harry.
The flowers
The happy couple have chosen floral designer Philippa Craddock to create the flower arrangements.